Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

W. LVPRAZER, THILL- COUPLING.

No. 535,055. PatentedMar. 5,1895.

NITED STATES PATENT WALTER L. FRAZER, OF NATIONAL CITY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM COOPER, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,058, dated March 5, 189 5.

Application filed December 9,1893. Serial N0.4es,21s. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER L. FRAZER, a citizen of the United States, residing at National City, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented a new and useful Thill-Ooupling, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to thill couplings; and has for its object to provide an improved coupler attachment adapted for use in connection with the usual axle clips and shaft iron, whereby such forms of coupling are prevented from rattling and becoming easily loosened.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to construct an improved anti-rattling thill coupling and shaft hanger to secure the easy hanging of the shaft or thill, while at the same time preventing rattling or loosening at their connections with the axle.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a thill coupling constructed in accordance with this invention showing the several parts of the coupling properly assembled. Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the coupling. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 00oc of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the coupler attachment, showing the several parts thereof separated. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the pivot bolt.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a section of a carriage or wagon axle on which is clamped an ordinary axle clip B. The axle clip B, is of the usual construction, provided at one side with the perforated clip lugs or arms O, and having their lower bolt ends engaged by the clip nuts D,

' located at opposite bottom sides of the axle A. The axle clip B, is adapted to pivotally receive the thill iron eye E, at one end of the thill iron e, secured to one end of the thill or.

shaft F, in the ordinary manner, and said thill iron is held pivotally between the clip lugs O,

on the pivot bolt G, which engages the clip lugs and the thill iron eye and in the present invention is designed to have the head 9, thereof, flattened at one side as at g.

The construction just described is the usual simple connection between the thill and the shaft, and in connection with this coupling I employ the coupler or attachment block H. The coupler or attachment block H, is of an approximate T-shape having an upper end head It, and a securing tongue h, projecting centrally from the lower side of said end head. The end head It, is provided at its lower side, at both sides of the tongue h, with the under rest shoulders I, which are adapted to rest flat on the upper sides of the clip lugs G, andone of said under rest shoulders I, is adapted to register and rest on the flattened side 9, of the bolt head g, so as to hold the bolt G, properly in position, and prevent the same from turning.

The securing tongue h, of the coupler block H, projecting from the lower side of the end head, is provided at one side adjacent to such end head with a curved bearing notch J, which is adapted to fit behind the thill iron eye E,

and to form a bearing for the inner end of the thill iron so as to hold the same tightly on its pivot bolt G, and prevent it from turning, and said securing tongue h, is further provided in its lower end and at one side with the squared socket K, which is adapted to fit over one of the squared clip nuts D, and thereby securely position the coupler or attachment block and effectually prevent side motion or loosening thereof.

At one end of the end head h, the coupler or attachment block 'h, is provided with a right angularly disposed ear K, which is located at one side of the bolt head g, and serves to additionally hold the bolt G, in position. The said ear K, has projected centrally from the outer side thereof the off-standing bolt arm L, and is provided in such side, concentric with the bolt arm, With a circular series of locking notches or openings M, adapted to adjustably receive the projected lock studs N, extended from one end of the spring barrel or collar 0. The lock studs N, are located at diametrically opposite sides on the inner end of the barrel or collar 0, so as to engage any of the notches or openings M, and said barrel or collar is arranged on the bolt arm L, and is held in any adjusted position thereon by means of the nut P, engaging the outer threaded end of the bolt arm at the outer side or end of the spring barrel or collar O. The spring barrel or collar 0, is further provided with a longitudinally disposed groove Q, and is adapted to accommodate thereon the spring coil R. The spring coil R, which is arranged on the barrel or collar 0, terminates at one extremity in the engaging tongue S, which is adapted to project into the groove Q, and thereby hold the spring coil fixedly in position on said barrel or collar, while the other extremity of the coil is extended into a spring shaft arm T. The spring shaft arm T, terminates at its outer end in an angularly disposed shaft hook U, adapted to engage under and around the shaft or thill at a point beyond its connection with the axle, so as to relieve such connection and greatly increase the efficiency and durability of the attachment. It will be apparent, that by loosening the nut P, and turning the barrel or collar 0, to any adjusted position, the tension of the spring coil B, may be increased or diminished at will, itbeing understood that the tension of the spring coil R,-by reason of its connection with the thill or shaft, is exerted in a direction that causes the coupling block H, to be clamped firmly against the eye E in order to obviate rattling, and thereby securing the anti-rattling function of the attachment.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with an ordinary thill coupling; of a T-shaped coupler block fitted between the axle clip and thill iron of the coupling and having its head portion resting on top of the lugs of the axle clip, said coupler block being provided at one end with a right angularly disposed ear, and with a socket formed in the lower end of its tongue, adapted to fit over one of the squared clip nuts of the axle clip, and a spring arm adjustably conflattened side of the pivot bolt head, and provided at one end with a right angularly disposed ear adapted to be arranged against the bolt head of the pivot bolt, and a securing tongue projected from the under side of the said end head, said tongue being provided with a socket adapted to fit over one of the squared clip nuts, and a spring arm connected to the ear of said coupler block and to the thill or shaft, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with an ordinary thill coupling; of a coupler block held in position between the axle clip and thill iron of the coupling and provided at one end With an ear, a spring barrel or collar removably and adjustably clamped to said ear, and a spring coil arranged on and locked to said spring barrel or collar and provided with an extended shaft arm, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with an ordinary thill coupling; of a coupler block held in position between the axle clip and thill iron of the coupling and provided at one end with an ear having an off-standing bolt arm and a circular series of openings, a spring barrel or collar adapted to be clamped on the bolt arm and having alongitudinally disposed groove, and projecting lock studs at one end and adapted to engage the openings in said ear, a spring coil arranged on' said barrel or collar and having a terminal tongue engaging the groove of the barrel or collar, and an extended shaft arm terminating at its outer end in a shaft hook adapted to engage the shaft or thill, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WVALTER L. FRAZER.

Witnesses:

H. A. HARBAUGH, OTTO R. FREITAG. 

